The Coldstream Guards performed Dolly Parton's hit song 9 to 5 outside Buckingham Palace on Wednesday morning following the country music star's death at age 80.
The military band selected the track for the traditional Changing of the Guard ceremony as a musical tribute one day after news of her death was announced. A crowd of tourists gathered outside the gates of the official royal residence in London as the soldiers played the song.
Released in 1980, 9 to 5 became one of the most recognizable hits of Parton's career. Video of the performance by the Coldstream Guards, the oldest continuously serving regiment in the British Army, was shared on the official social media accounts of the royal family alongside a message praising her life and work.
Royal Tribute to Literacy Campaign
In their official post, the royal family stated that they remembered the late singer for bringing joy, comfort, and inspiration to millions of people. They paid special tribute to her effort to provide free books to children through her charity, the Imagination Library, and concluded the message by stating that she would always be loved.
The royal family highlighted Parton's extensive philanthropic work alongside her accomplishments in music. Her Imagination Library program was created to give books to young children and has distributed more than 300 million books over more than three decades.
The Queen's Reading Room, a charity founded by Queen Camilla, also honored the late singer. The organization described Parton as an icon and highlighted her long standing advocacy for the importance of reading and improving children's access to books.
History with the Royal Family
Parton's connection to the British royal family spanned several decades. She first met Queen Elizabeth II in 1977 during events celebrating the monarch's Silver Jubilee, which marked 25 years on the throne. Years later, the singer recalled that meeting and spoke about the nervousness she felt regarding royal protocol.
In 2023, Parton revealed that she had declined an invitation to have tea with Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales. Parton was visiting Great Britain at the time to promote her album and could not fit the meeting into her promotional schedule. She added that she hoped to welcome the Princess of Wales and her children to Dollywood, her theme park in Tennessee.
